When it comes to upgrading to Windows 8, does the gain outrun the costs?
In the tech business, we frequently refer to total cost of ownership (TCO), which takes into account a purchase’s impact cost. The price tag on the software box only represents a small percentage of TCO. Windows 8 migration potentially carries a large footprint TCO.
Microsoft recently announced a $15 upgrade path for Windows 8, the most recent addition to its operating system family. This is an unheard of development. I have been selling, servicing, and patching Microsoft’s OSs since the release of Windows 3, a product that was barely usable. In fact, Microsoft did not release a working version of Win3 until Windows 3.11 Service Pack 2. Since Win3SP2 we have seen Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 -- and now Windows 8. With the exception of Vista, most of the releases have been usable, if not a boon for the users, increasing uptime and functionality with each release.
I will not delve into the bells and whistles of Win8 in this post. There's already a wealth of information available across the Web with details ranging from the 10 key new features you will find, possible upgrade paths available from previous Microsoft OSs, and the new reduced pricing offering. My team has been working with Win8 on the test bench for a few months. Still, the jury is out on the real business reasons to migrate to the "next level" with Microsoft.
Every business deal is driven by one of two factors: fear or greed. Breaking down why you'll upgrade from your current OS to Win8 will eventually be driven by one of these two base elements. It could be fear of being left behind by a partner or vendor who will no longer support the earlier OS or finding out your current OS doesn't support new or needed software. Greed is most likely the driving factor for the integrator pushing users towards an imminent upgrade. Sounds harsh, but it is traditionally true.
Microsoft claims that no new hardware is required to support WIn8. This is partially true. The OS itself will run on most hardware capable of running Vista and all the newer Win7 boxes. In reality, the functionality base, all of the new bells and whistles (or "charms," as you may call them if you have already been reading about Win7) require a touch interface. In fact, a touch interface capable of reading more than two active points is optimal.
Moore's Law tells us that hardware drops in price as it increases in speed. This is apparent in the most recent NVIDIA Tegra3 chipset, designed for mobile devices and a perfect fit with Win8. It's got all the power and multi-touch functionality needed to support the new breed of devices. Yes, Win8 will run on legacy hardware, but why? In order to leverage Microsoft's newest OS, users really require a new breed of hardware. That's just what the doctor ordered for the lagging hardware and software market.
My choice, if I were plunging into the Win8 pool, would be a new Tegra3-based tablet with Win8. I have been anxiously awaiting the Asus 10-inch 10-point tablet for months. Normally, I am apathetic about new hardware releases -- as a lifetime geek it is tough to get emotionally attached to any piece of tech, but the new Asus/Tegra3 line of devices is an exciting entry. Inexpensive and highly functional, it's truly something to look forward to!
Win8: To take the plunge or not? My advice is simple. Do not get sucked into the $15 sale price for the new OS. The story will end with a much larger price tag. Any woman who has saved 80 percent on a great pair of shoes, only to "need to buy" a much more expensive dress to complete the ensemble understands. Though she ends up looking great for the pending event, at what cost did she prepare her true event-based TCO?
No comments:
Post a Comment